Cleaning mitt



Get. 10, 1933. J B; FAR HAR 1,930,044

CLEANING MITT Filed Feb. 27, 1931 Patented Oct. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES 1,930,044 VCLEANING MITT John Black Farquhar, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Champion Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application February 27, 1931. Serial No. 518,664 4 Claims. o1. 15-227) This invention relates to mitts and particularly to an article of the class described having fluid absorbing and retaining properties, and which may be used for cleaning purposes.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use in cleaning automobiles or other devices having similar highly polished surfaces, and among other objects the present invention is intended to provide an article of the class described which is capable of absorbing and retaining a large quantity of fluid, particularly water for cleaning purposes.

Another object of the invention is. to provide an article of the character described from which the absorbed fluid may be readily expelled.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article which will not become matted when saturated or moistened with fluid, and which will not become knotted in a manner to produce hard portions which would tend to scratch or mar the surface being cleaned or otherwise treated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article of the character described having a plurality of braided or woven tubular strands of material substantially uniformly distributed throughout the working surface of the article.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mitt of chemically treated water-proof and distillate-proof material having apertures formed therein and having a plurality of hollow, tubular, braided strands of absorbent material secured adjacent their central portions to and uniformly distributed over the surface of the mitt.

Another object of the invention is to provide a covering material for the back and/or palm side of-a cleaning mitt.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of producing a mitt of the character described.

A still further object of the invention is to improve an article of the class described in sundry details hereinafter referred to and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a cleaning mitt embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of a mitt embodying the present invention and taken substantially as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a carrier strip and strand assembly adapted to be secured to the body of the mitt and forming a part of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through one of the strands characterizing the present invention and illustrating the hollow tubular form thereof; and

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a mitt constructed in accordance with the present invention and illustrating the application of a gauntlet or sleeve portion thereto;

The illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises an envelope or body portion indicated as a whole by the numeral 10 comprising, in the present instance, a pair of suitably formed front and back pieces 11 and 12, respectively, stitched together along a portion of their edges in a manner to form, in the present instance, a mitt having thumb and finger portions desired, to the rear side thereof preferably by means of stitching 1''! are a plurality of carrier strips 18, 19 and 20 on which are mounted a plurality of braided tubular over-lapping strands 21 of absorbent material. These strands are secured preferably adjacent their central portions to the strips 18, 19 and 20 by means of stitching 22 along the edges of the strip in a manner to secure the central portion of the strands in fixed position with respect to the strip, and to permit the opposite ends of the strands to hang or move freely and assume any natural position according to the cleaning operations of the mitt.

The braided tubular formation of the strands 21 provide a structure capable of absorbing and retaining a vast amount of fluid such as water and from which the fluid may be readily expelled by squeezing in the manner employed in expelling water from a sponge, or the like. Furthermore, the structure of the strands serves to eliminate matting of the absorbent material and prevents the formation of knots or hard portions which would tend to scratch or mar the surface being cleaned or otherwise treated.

A mitt of the character described provides material advantages over cleaning devices at present in use, particularly sponges, or the like, in that the present invention provides a structure which is strong, durable and not easily torn or ruptured as frequently happens in the use of other devices, particularly sponges, or the like, which are of such delicate structure that unless carefully used are easily ruptured and soon become unfit for further use.

I am aware that strands of twisted twine have been employed on dust mitts, and the like, but

such structures are not at all desirable or practi- 1'20 cal for washing purposes owing to their tendency to fray and become matted, while the structure .of the present invention including the braided tubular strands provides a degree of strength and durability not found in any of the devices at present in use.

For providing substantially uniform distribution of the strands 21 throughout the'working surface of the mitt, the carrier strip 18, in the present instance, is secured to the thumb of the.

mitt preferably adjacent the central portion thereof and to the finger portion of the mitt preferably adjacent the edge thereof, while the strip 19 is secured in substantially U-shaped formation to the finger portion preferably within the strip 18, and the substantially straight strip 20 is secured to the mitt preferably within the U- shaped strip 19, thus insuring a substantial body of strands adjacent that portion of the mitt where the greatest pressure is applied in the cleaning operation, and protecting the surface to be cleaned from the contact with the harder material of the body portion 10.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing is illustrated a structure wherein the wrist portion 15 of the mitt is extended in a manner to form a sleeve or gauntlet 23 of substantial length for protecting the garments of the user from soiling by water, or the like, and in the structure shown in Fig. 5, the draining apertures 16 may be omitted and in such case, the hand of theuser is also protected from contact with the water or other cleaning fluid used.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a cleaning mitt of strong durable structure and one which is capable of absorbing andretaining a large amount of water, or the like, and from which the water may be readily expelled. Furthermore, hat the structure of the strands prevents matting of the material, and the formation of hard or knotty portions to scratch or mar a surface being cleaned or otherwise treated.

Obviously, the improved mitt may be employed for polishing or dusting as well as for washing purposes and, as previously stated, the carrier strips and strands may be secured to either one or both sides of the body portion, as desired.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described, as the same may be variously modified without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the claims. Moreover, all the features of the present invention need not be used conjointly, as the same may be used to advantage in variously different combinations and sub-combinations within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An article of the class described comprising a mitt formed of water-proof material and having apertures formed in the thumb and finger portions adjacent the edge thereof, and a plurality of braided tubular strands of absorbent material secured adjacent their central portions to said thumb and finger portions on the palm side of said mitt. V

2. An article of the class described comprising a mitt having thumb and finger portions, a

plurality of carrier strips, and a plurality of closely positioned tubular braided strands secured to said strips and extending substantially transversely thereto, one of said strips being secured to said thumb portion adjacent the central portion thereof and to said finger portion adjacent the edge thereof, another of said strips being secured in substantially U-shaped form to said finger portion within said first mentioned strip, and asubstantially straight strip secured to said finger portion withinsaid U'-shaped strip.

3. An article of the class described comprising a hand receiving envelope, a plurality of carrier strips, and a plurality of closely positioned tubular braided strands secured to said strips and extending substantially transversely thereto, one of said strips being secured to said envelope adjacent the edge thereof, another of said strips being secured in substantially U-shaped form to theside of the envelope within said first mentioned strip,':and a substantially straight strip secured to the envelope within said U-shaped strip.

4. An article of the class described comprising a hand receiving envelope formed of waterproof material and having apertures formed therein adjacent the edge portion thereof, and a plurality of braided tubular strands of absorbent material secured adjacent their central portions to one side of said envelope.

JOHN BLACK FARQUHAR. 

